Clifden RNLI rescue sailor in Clifden Bay

It was a notable shout for Clifden crew; Chris Nee was in charge of the inshore lifeboat as Helm for the first time, Dara Wallace who is newly recruited to the station had his first shout, and Michael Barrett oversaw the operation as head launcher, his first since passing out as Deputy Launch Authority in recent weeks. Ash Sweeney and Shane Conneely were also on the crew for this rescue.

The sailor was quickly located in Clifden Bay, his sailing vessel was in difficulty and the decision was made to establish an along-side tow and bring the boat to a safe mooring. The sailor, who was unharmed and in good spirits, was safely transported back to shore. Sea conditions at the time were quite challenging with a straight south westerly wind.

Speaking about the shout, Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Tony Casey said, ‘I was delighted to see all the hard work of training and assessments play out in yesterday’s rescue. Huge congratulations to Chris, Dara and Michael who carried out a textbook operation along with Shane and Ash.

‘As a team we train constantly to ensure that when the pagers go off we are prepared and equipped to the highest standards. If there’s anyone in our local community who would like to join us please get in touch, we are always looking for new recruits.

‘Our lifeboat crew are on call 24/7. If you get into difficulty, or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.